Vehicle door latch security tether

Abstract

A vehicle that includes a door, handle, shaft, and a latch assembly is provided. The latch assembly is coupled to the door to selectively secure the door. The latch assembly includes a security tether configured to prevent the shaft from moving the pawl when the lock lever is located in the locked condition. The security tether further includes: a plate attachable to the latch assembly; the plate includes an aperture sized to receive at least a portion of the lock lever that is disposed through the aperture; the plate includes first and second stop surfaces to limit movement of the lock lever; the first and second stop surfaces are also spaced apart from each other; the lock lever is movable between the first and second stop surfaces; at least the first stop surface is spaced apart from the first location on the pawl; and the lock lever engages the first stop surface when the lock lever is located in the locked condition to prevent the pawl from moving to the unlatched condition and unlatching the latching assembly.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A security tether for a latch assembly of a truck cap, which covers a rear bed of a pickup truck, wherein the latch assembly includes a pawl that is movable between a latched condition and an unlatched condition, a lock assembly with a lock lever that is engageable with the pawl when the lock assembly is in a locked condition and disengageable from the pawl when the lock assembly is in an unlocked condition, wherein the security tether is configured to provide an additional security feature to the lock lever, the security tether comprising:
 a plate configured to be attached to the latch assembly adjacent the lock assembly; 
 wherein the plate is configured to be non-movable with respect to the lock assembly; 
 wherein the plate includes at least one opening disposed therein and configured to receive at least a portion of the lock lever of the lock assembly; and 
 wherein the at least one opening of the plate includes a stop surface configured to limit movement of the lock lever when the lock assembly is in the locked condition which provides the additional security feature to the lock lever when the lock assembly is in the locked condition. 
 
     
     
       2. The security tether of  claim 1 , further comprising a fastener configured to secure the plate to the latch assembly. 
     
     
       3. The security tether of  claim 2 , wherein the plate is configured to be fastened to the latch assembly. 
     
     
       4. The security tether of  claim 1 , wherein the stop surface is extended through the plate. 
     
     
       5. The security tether of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one opening in the plate extends through the plate. 
     
     
       6. The security tether of  claim 1 , wherein the plate further includes a second opening sized to receive a fastener. 
     
     
       7. The security tether of  claim 1 , wherein the stop surface extends along a portion of a periphery of the at least one opening. 
     
     
       8. A security tether for a latch assembly of a truck cap, which covers a rear bed of a pickup truck, wherein the latch assembly includes a pawl that is movable between a latched condition and an unlatched condition, a lock assembly with a lock lever that is engageable with the pawl when the lock assembly is in a locked condition and disengageable from the pawl when the lock assembly is in an unlocked condition, wherein the security tether is configured to provide an additional security feature to the lock lever, the security tether comprising:
 a plate configured to be non-movable with respect to the lock assembly; 
 wherein the plate includes at least one opening disposed therein configured to receive at least a portion of the lock lever of the lock assembly; and 
 wherein the at least one opening of the plate includes a stop surface which is engageable with the lock lever to provide the additional security feature to the lock assembly when in the locked condition. 
 
     
     
       9. The security tether of  claim 8 , further comprising a fastener configured to secure the plate to a latch assembly. 
     
     
       10. The security tether of  claim 9 , wherein the plate is configured to be fastened to the latch assembly. 
     
     
       11. The security tether of  claim 8 , wherein the stop surface is extended through the plate. 
     
     
       12. The security tether of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one opening in the plate extends through the plate. 
     
     
       13. The security tether of  claim 8 , wherein the plate further includes a second opening sized to receive a fastener. 
     
     
       14. The security tether of  claim 8 , wherein the stop surface extends along a portion of a periphery of the at least one opening. 
     
     
       15. A security tether for a latch assembly of a truck cap, which covers a rear bed of a pickup truck, wherein the latch assembly includes a pawl that is movable between a latched condition and an unlatched condition, a lock assembly with a lock lever that is engageable with the pawl when the lock assembly is in a locked condition and disengageable from the pawl when the lock assembly is in an unlocked condition, wherein the security tether is configured to provide an additional security feature to the lock lever, the security tether comprising:
 a plate configured to be attached to the latch assembly adjacent the lock assembly; 
 wherein the plate is configured to be non-movable with respect to the lock assembly; 
 wherein the plate includes at least one opening disposed therein configured to receive at least a portion of the lock lever of the lock assembly; 
 wherein the at least one opening extends through the plate; 
 wherein the at least one opening also extends outwardly from the plate; 
 wherein the at least one opening has a periphery; 
 wherein the periphery of the at least one opening of the plate terminates where the at least one opening extends outwardly from the plate; and 
 wherein the periphery of the at least one opening of the plate includes a stop surface configured to limit movement of the lock lever condition which provides the additional security feature to the lock lever when the lock assembly is in the locked condition. 
 
     
     
       16. The security tether of  claim 15 , further comprising a fastener configured to secure the plate to the latch assembly. 
     
     
       17. The security tether of  claim 16 , wherein the plate is configured to be fastened to the latch assembly. 
     
     
       18. The security tether of  claim 15 , wherein the stop surface is extended through the plate.